Unwell Season 5/Episode 6 - Boundaries
by Jim McDoniel
Facing our fears
I would not show you this
Things change
Content Advisories for this episode can be found here.
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This episode features: Kat Hoil as Abbie, Clarisa Cherie Rios as Lily, Ele Matelan as the Waitress, Sebastian Orr as the Proprietor, Eli Barraza as Lina, Mark Soloff as Silas, Matt Young as Tim, Ele Matelan as Lark, Sebastian Orr as Abbot, Mark Soloff as the Reverend Silas Lodge, and Amelia Bethel as Marisol.
Written by Jim McDoniel, sound design by Alexander Danner, directed by Jeffrey Nils Gardner, assistant director Lauren Grace Thompson, theme music composed by Stephen Poon, recording engineer Mel Ruder, associate producer Ani Enghdahl, Theme performed by Stephen Poon, Lauren Kelly, Gunnar Jebsen, Travis Elfers, Mel Ruder, and Betsey Palmer, produced by haydée r. souffrant, Unwell lead sound designer Eli Hamada McIlveen, Executive Producers Eleanor Hyde and Jeffrey Nils Gardner, by HartLife NFP.
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SCENE 1
EXT. HUNTER’S. NIGHT.
A CAR PULLS UP IN THE RAIN OUTSIDE OF THE
DINER. WE HEAR THE SQUEAK OF THE
WINDSHIELD WIPERS UNTIL THEY ARE TURNED
OFF ALONG WITH THE CAR.
LILY: Well, here we are. Hunter’s Diner.
ABBIE: Yeah.
PAUSE AND RAIN.
LILY: Are you sure this is a good idea?
ABBIE: No. But it’s something...I need to do. I just need a second.
LILY: Okay. I’m here for you.
ABBIE DOES SOME CENTERING BREATHING.
ABBIE: Thank you. Again. For coming with me.
LILY: What are friends for?
ABBIE: No, really. Thank you. I...I don’t think I could have done this
alone. And...I don’t know who else...I wouldn’t have felt
comfortable bringing anyone else here.
LILY: Because it’s dangerous.
ABBIE: Because you’re the bravest person I know.
LILY: Oh.
ABBIE: I don’t...have a lot of friends. Shocking I know.
LILY: I wasn’t going to say anything.
ABBIE: I have...acquaintances and classmates and colleagues and
professors. Advisors. People I know. People I used to know.
People I went to school with. But not...friends. There’s my
sister...and there...was Rudy...and Norah...and
there’s...you. Which is to say...I want you to know you are
my...best...friend.
LILY: Thank you Abbie. (PAUSE) That...that means...Is a hug
okay?
ABBIE: A hug is fine.
LILY: Good.
BIG HUG.
Sometimes, it’s so much easier to hug the things you want to
say than to say the things you want to say.
ABBIE: That has not been my experience but okay.
HUG ENDS.
I believe I’m ready to go in. Hand me the bolt cutters.
LILY HANDS THEM OVER. DOORS OPEN THE
DOORS SHUT AND WE HEAR FOOTSTEPS
APPROACH.
ABBIE: Here. Put this on.
LILY: A dust mask?
ABBIE: (THROUGH A MASK) This place was pretty gross even
before the rain. There’s no telling what kind of mold might be
growing in here now.
ABBIE STRUGGLES WITH THE BOLT CUTTER AS
IT BREAKS THE CHAIN ON THE DOOR. THE
CHAIN FALLS AWAY IN A CLATTER. THE DOOR
OPENS AND THEY ENTER. A BELL RINGS AS THE
WALK INTO A BUSY HUNTER’S DINER
LANDSCAPE IN PRISTINE CONDITION. THERE
ARE SOUNDS AKIN TO CONVERSATIONS IN THE
BACKGROUND. THE MUZAK PLAYS.
ABBIE: (D) What?
LILY: (D) Absolutely disgusting. The same shag carpet.
ABBIE: (D) No.
THEY TAKE OFF THEIR MASK.
It wasn’t like this. It was broken down and dirty and...
LILY: (NO LONGER MASKED) I believe you.
WAITRESS: Wait to be seated.
ABBIE: I’m Abbie. I worked here.
WAITRESS: You’re Abbie. You worked here.
THE WAITRESS GROWLS IN THOUGHT AND
GRABS MENUS.
Table Ten. This way.
THEY FOLLOW FOR A SECOND AND THEN STOP.
LILY: Oh...
ABBIE: Fuck me.
LILY: ...wolves.
THE STRANGE “CONVERSATIONS” COME MORE
INTO FOCUS AS WOLVES EAT AND WHINING AND
GROWLING AND YIPPING AND MAKING WOLF
SOUNDS ALMOST APPROXIMATING DINER
GUESTS TALKING AND DINING.
ABBIE: That solves the mystery of where they all went.
LILY: But why are they here?
WOLF SOUNDS FOLLOWED BY THE CLINK OF
METAL AND PORCELAIN.
And why are they trying to use cutlery?
WAITRESS: (EMPHATICALLY) THIS. WAY.
ABBIE: Sorry.
LILY AND ABBIE FOLLOW THE WAITRESS.
(QUIETLY TO THEM BOTH.) Deep breaths. Everything’s
fine. We are just other patrons. At a diner. Deep breaths.
THEY TAKE DEEP BREATHS AS THEY WALK. A
WOLF YIPS SOMETHING APPROXIMATING
LANGUAGE.
WAITRESS: No free refills.
THE WOLF SNAPS AT THE WAITRESS. THE
WAITRESS SNAPS BACK.
WAITRESS: (SIGH) You’re Abbie. You worked here.
ABBIE: Yes.
WAITRESS: Menus.
THE WAITRESS HANDS ABBIE THE MENUS.
Over there. Table ten.
ABBIE: I understand.
A PLATE CRASHES FOLLOWED BY WOLF
LAUGHTER.
WAITRESS: Ugh. Busy, busy.
THE WAITRESS WALKS AWAY. AS SOON AS THE
WAITRESS WALKS AWAY, THE SOUNDS FROM
THE NEARBY WOLFS STOP. THEN THEY START
SNIFFING AND A LOW-LEVEL GROWL BEGINS.
ABBIE: Quickly.
THEY HURRY TO THEIR TABLE AND TAKE THEIR
SEATS. THE VINYL IN THE BOOTH SCREECHES
AS THEY SLIDE IN. THE WOLVES GO BACK TO
THEIR “CONVERSATIONS.”
LILY: (WHISPERING) Abbie what are we doing here?
ABBIE: Following the rules.
LILY: What rules?
ABBIE: Rudy...Rudy once told me about story logic—how a fictional
story operates by its own set of rules that reward you for
following them. He compared it to dream logic.
LILY: You think this is a story?
ABBIE: I think this is a dream. Or rather, it operates by the same
rules as a dream. Strange things happen here. The radio
plays bird song. Hallways go on longer than they should.
People become...monstrous.
LILY: Wolves become people?
ABBIE: Exactly. But it never seems...strange. Not entirely. And it
always follows its own set of rules.
LILY: Okay. I get all that...but what’s your goal here?
LARK: (EXCITED) AAAAAABBBIEEEEEE!
THE WAITRESS (NOW LARK) SLIDES INTO THE
BOOTH NEXT TO ABBIE.
LARK HUGS!
LARK BIG HUGS ABBIE.
You’re back!
ABBIE: (STRAINED) And we’re on hugging terms apparently.
LILY: I’m Lily.
LARK: (SNAPS, ALMOST WAITRESS-Y) I know!
(BACK TO LARK) I’m Lark. I work here. They’re Abbie. They
work here.
ABBIE: Work-ED here.
LARK: (POUTY) I know. (EXCITED) Are you coming back?
ABBIE: Maybe. Is the Proprietor in?
LARK: In the back. Do you want me to get him?
ABBIE: You’re busy. I can find him.
LARK: But he’s in the back.
ABBIE: Yes.
LARK: You’re at Table Ten.
ABBIE: I worked here. I know the way.
LARK: You work-ED here. But now you’re at Table Ten.
(LEANS IN LOW) It’s your table. Not table nine. Not table
two. NOT the back. Table ten. It’s your table.
(NORMAL VOICE) I’ll tell him you’re here.
WOLF SNARL FROM ANOTHER TABLE. THE
WAITRESS SNARLS YIPS BACK AND THEN
RETURNS TO LARK.
(SCOFF) Busy, busy. One more hug.
HUG.
LARK: ABBIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
ABBIE: Ow.
LARK: Ow?
ABBIE: Ow.
LARK: (GENTLY) Abbiiiiiiieeeeeee.
WE HEAR LARK WALK OFF BACK INTO THE
DINER.
LILY: I’m not missing anything, right? That was the same waitress
as before? The same waitress who’s always here.
ABBIE: Maybe. Her name’s never been Lark before. (TO
THEMSELVES.) We’re at table ten. It’s our table. (TO LILY)
The last time I was here, there was a stuffed loon—a
taxidermy loon—who helped me.
LILY: A taxidermy loon?
ABBIE: Dream logic.
LILY: Right, right.
ABBIE: It was table ten. And now this is table ten. It’s our table.
LILY: Soo...table ten is good, yes?
ABBIE: Table ten is good for us. We’re safe at table ten. (SIGH)
But...
LILY: But...dream logic, story logic, you never stay where you’re
safe. So, to get what we want...
ABBIE: ...we have to go to the back.
LILY: Okay.
THEY BOTH STAND UP. ALL THE NOISE OF THE
DINER ABRUPTLY STOPS. PAUSE. LILY AND
ABBIE START TO WALK. LOW GROWLS BEGIN
FROM THE WOLVES.
I don’t think they like that we’re not at our table.
ONE OF THE WOLVES NIPS AT ABBIE.
ABBIE: AH! (IN A NERVOUS, DECLARATIVE VOICE) We are going
to the restroom. All patrons of a restaurant are allowed to
use the restroom. The patrons of table ten are going to use
the restroom.
PAUSE. SLOWLY THE WOLVES ONCE AGAIN
RETURN TO THEIR “CONVERSATIONS.”
ABBIE: We need to move quickly.
LILY: Right.
THEY DOUBLE TIME IT INTO THE BACK.
ABBIE: The Proprietor’s office is over here.
LILY: Abbie...maybe we should go.
ABBIE: I...can’t. Not yet.
LILY: Abbie?
ABBIE: Please. I know. I know. It’s not rational; it’s not intelligent. It’s
not safe. It’s...emotional. I, Abbie Douglas, am making an
emotional decision. I NEED this. Please.
LILY: Okay.
ABBIE: The Proprietor’s office...
THEY JIGGLE THE HANDLE. IT IS LOCKED.
Well...damn.
ABBIE KNOCKS QUIETLY.
Hello? Sir? It’s Abbie. I worked here. I wanted to speak with
you.
PAUSE.
SLOW CREEEEEPY CREAK OF THE DOOR
OPENING.
LILY: The door didn’t unlock did it?
ABBIE: Nope, it just opened.
SLOW STEPS AS ABBIE MOVES FORWARD.
Hello? I’m looking for the Proprietor. Is he available?
THE DOOR QUICKLY CLOSES. IT HITS LILY
TRYING TO WALK IN.
LILY: Wait! Abbie!
ABBIE: NO!
SLAM! ABBIE GRABS THE HANDLE BUT IT
DOESN’T BUDGE.
LILY!
THEY BANG AGAINST THE DOOR.
ABBIE: Open the door.
LILY: (D) I can’t. It won’t open.
ABBIE: Lily!
LILY: Hold on.
LILY THROWS HER WEIGHT AGAINST THE DOOR.
ONCE. TWICE. SOMETHING POPS.
Shit Ow! Abbie?
THEY ARE BREATHING VERY QUICKLY.
(D) Abbie...I can’t move the door.
ABBIE: (TO THEMSELVES) Dream logic. Dream logic. Dream logic.
Dream logic. It’s fine. It’s fine. This is an experiment to test a
hypothesis. Nothing more. It’s a test. Just a test. We’re good
at tests.
LILY: (D) I’m going to go find something to break the doorknob.
ABBIE: (VOICE CRACKS) No don’t! (BACK TO THEMSELVES)
Please...just stay here on the other side of the door.
LILY: (D) Okay. I’m here.
ABBIE: The...diner wants me here alone. And that’s okay. I’m going
to see what I can see. Just...please stay and talk to me.
Unwell 5.06 18
LILY: (D) Will do.
CELL PHONE CLICKS.
ABBIE: Thank God for the flashlight app.
THEY WALK SLOWLY FORWARD.
(CALLING OUT) This isn’t the same room as before.
LILY: (D) What does it look like?
ABBIE: Before it was all...half-finished taxidermy. This is...just a
hallway.
QUIET COUGHING SOUND NEARBY. ABBIE
STOPS. WHEEZING BREATHS CAN BE HEARD.
Hello? Mr. Proprietor...sir?
THEY WALK A FEW MORE STEPS FORWARD.
ABBIE: Not a hallway...a bedroom.
LINA: (WHEEZING) Hello? Is someone there?
ABBIE: (DEEP BREATH) Hello?
LINA: Liza?
ABBIE: (To THEMSELVES) Liza?
LINA Liza?
ABBIE: Eliza...Fenwood. This is...no...it can’t be Fenwood; the
architecture’s all wrong.
THE CROSS TO THE WINDOW AND PULL BACK A
CURTAIN.
But that IS the view from Lily’s room. Which makes this...the
Lyle Homestead...and you’re...Lina?
LINA: Liza. You came. (VIOLENT COUGHING FIT.
ABBIE: Here.
ABBIE CROSSES TO A TABLE.
Try to drink some water.
LINA TRIES.
LINA: Liza. (STARTS TO SOB) You’re here.
ABBIE: I’m not...
LINA: (THROUGH SOBS) I tried...so hard to hang on...I didn’t
think I’d see you again...
ABBIE: It’s okay. I’m here now. Liza’s here. We’re back together.
LINA: (LAUGH/CRYING) Sorry...I don’t mean to make a fuss.
ABBIE: Since when didn’t a Lyle mean to make a fuss. It’s practically
a family tradition.
LINA: (LAUGHS) I’m just so happy you came. Cleveland is so far
away.
ABBIE: Only about two and a half hours...
LINA: Three days travel by carriage.
ABBIE: Right. Right. Well, I...took a train.
LINA: How could you afford a train ticket?
ABBIE: I’ve been saving up...to visit.
LINA: Saving? That hardly sounds like you.
ABBIE: (TO THEMSELVES) No, it doesn’t, does it. (TO LINA) You
got me...I robbed the train at gunpoint...
LINA GIGGLES.
ABBIE: ...took all the cash and coin and jumped into Tinley’s Creek
and swam until I got to the LaCorte farm. Then I strapped a
saddle onto Edith and rode her through town, throwing flour
at every Warren I saw.
LINA: Even Theodoric.
ABBIE: Especially Theodoric. But I did it all so I could get back here
and see my sister.
LINA: One more time...(COUGHS)
ABBIE: Here...
LINA: NO! (CONTINUES TO COUGH) The doctor said it isn’t safe
to get so close.
ABBIE: Somehow...I don’t think that will be a problem in this case,
but if it makes you comfortable, I’ll sit right here. Just try and
sip the water when you can.
LINA FINISHES COUGHING AND SIPS THE
WATER.
ABBIE: Better?
LINA: I’m sorry.
ABBIE: There’s nothing to be sorry for.
LINA (EXHAUSTED) I just need to...close my eyes for...
ABBIE: Of course...
ABBIE STARTS TO GET UP.
LINA: Liza. Will you stay with me?
ABBIE: As long as you need.
THE SOUND BECOMES AN ECHO FADING OUT.
ABBIE: As long as you need.
WE TRANSITION BACK TO THE HALLWAY WHERE
LILY IS STILL WAITING AT THE DOOR.
LILY: Abbie?
SHE TAPS AT THE DOOR.
LILY: Abbie are you there? Are you all right?
LILY DIALS ON HER PHONE. IT RINGS.
Come on, Abbie pick up. Pick up.
FARTHER DOWN THE HALL A DOOR SLAMS
SHUT.
LILY: (CRY OF SURPRISE) Abbie?
THE DOOR RATTLES OPEN AND CLOSED AS IF
BEING PUSHED BY THE WIND. LILY WALKS
TOWARD IT. THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE
CLICKS.
ABBIE: (D) This is Abbie Douglas. Please leave a message. Or text
me like a normal person.
LILY: Shit.
LILY HANGS UP.
Abbie...?
LILY PUSHES THE DOOR OPEN INTO A FOREST.
CICADAS?
LILY: Nope.
LILY SHUTS THE DOOR.
I am not going through a door in a diner that leads to a
fucking forest.
A MUFFLED WAIL FROM BEHIND THE DOOR.
Shit.
LILY OPENS THE DOOR A LITTLE.
LILY: Abbie...?
SHE TAKES A FEW STEPS IN. THERE IS A FAINT
WHIMPERING SOUND.
Abbie? Is that you?
FOOTSTEPS IN LEAVES. THE WHIMPERING
GROWS LOUDER.
REVEREND: (WEEPING/WHIMPERING) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
LILY: Hello? Sir?
LOUD SOUND ECHOES THROUGH THE
FOREST.
REVEREND: (WEEPING/WHIMPERING) he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name’s sake.
LILY: Sir, are you okay?
REVEREND: They’re gone! They’re gone! They’re all gone!
GASP/RECOIL FROM LILY.
LILY: Silas!?
REVEREND: They took them. They killed them. Like the wolves who dress
in sheep’s clothing. Like the devils who take the form of men.
LILY: Who are you talking about? Who killed who?
REVEREND: Themselves. They fell upon themselves. A Patrick for
Patrick. John to John. Mary to Mary. They strangled and
drowned and smothered. Asking questions with no answers
and stealing the last breath from their own mouths. Each to
their own...
FOOTSTEPS IN THE LEAVES.
SILAS: ...and to what they deserved.
REVEREND: (TERRIFIED SHRIEK) Yea though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with
me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.
SILAS: (TO LILY) Lillian. Fancy meeting you here.
LILY: Silas?
SILAS: Yes and no. More yes than him. More no than in other
places.
LILY: That makes no sense.
SILAS: It’s what passes for sense in this place. I believe your friend
called it...
LILY: Dream logic.
SILAS: Dream logic indeed.
LILY: Where are they?
SILAS: Funny, that’s what I was going to ask.
LILY: Silas...
SILAS: Patience, Lillian. They must see what they must see, and
you must see what you must see. Not that I would show you
this, but here I am not me, and I can’t help myself. Quite the
opposite in fact.
REVEREND: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me...
SILAS: “Goodness?” “Mercy?” What makes you think you deserve
mercy? Or this place? Or anything? Hmm? After all, what
was it you said on Sunday? “Their wickedness, their guilt is
ever treasuring up more wrath. The black clouds...
THUNDER. SILAS’S VOICE MELDS INTO THE
STORM. WITHIN THIS MEDLEY
IS THE WORD “WHERE?”
...hang overhead, full of the dreadful storm. They deserve to
be cast into the fire. Yea, justice calls aloud for an infinite
punishment of their sins.”
THUNDER. THE SOUND DIES DOWN. SILAS
BECOMES QUIET AND MORE MENACING.
SILAS: Now, how about some words of my own. Once upon a time
there was a shepherd. He knew he was a shepherd because
wherever he went the other sheep followed for his wool was
the whitest and his bleet was the loudest and the grass he
ate was greener than any other grass on the hill. Truly he
must be a shepherd.
But one day...he met a wolf.
REVEREND: (WHIMPER)
SILAS: And the wolf said, “You are not a shepherd at all. You have
no stick to hit me with nor a voice to call for help nor arms
and legs to run and climb and evade my grasp. You are but a
sheep, the fattest sheep in the flock. And I think it is time I
showed you how wrong you have been.
REVEREND: Please...
LILY: Silas...don’t.
SILAS: Don’t? It is far too late for don’t. These are not the shadows
you can change. Run along, Lillian. You have seen all there
is to see. Your friend awaits you. And this woodcutter has a
date with the wood.
LILY: Silas wait...
SILAS BEGINS DRAGGING THE REVEREND INTO
THE WOOD.
REVEREND: (SHOUTING) No! Please! No! The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want!
LILY: SILAS!
FLAMES!
FUCK!
REVEREND: (GROWING DISTANT) Yea thou I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death...!
LILY RUNS BACK TOWARD THE DOOR. THE
WOOD IS ON FIRE.
REVEREND: (SCREAMING) I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
(HORRIFIC SCREAMING)
THE DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS. LILY BREATHS
HEAVILY. THERE’S A SNIFFING AWAY OF TEARS
BEHIND HER.
LILY: (CRY OF SURPRISE) Abbie?
ABBIE: (TEARS SUBSIDING) Lily?
LILY EMBRACES ABBIE.
LILY: Are you okay? You’re crying.
ABBIE: I’m...I’m fine. Well, we made it to the bathroom.
LILY: Dream logic is bullshit. Can we PLEASE get out of here?
SHE OPENS THE DOOR. A RABID WOLF/DOG
SOUND OF BARKING, GROWLING, CLAWING,
AND BITING.
LILY AND ABBIE THROW THEMSELVES AGAINST
THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT EVEN AS WOLF-FORM
PROPRIETOR BANGS AGAINST IT. THE DOOR
SLAMS CLOSED AND IS LOCKED.
LILY: (HISSES IN PAIN) Ow. Ow.
ABBIE: You’re bleeding.
THEY START THE FAUCET AND WASH THE
WOUND.
LILY: Fucking HUNTERS!
NAILS SCRATCHING THE DOOR IN LONG AND
ERRATIC PATTERNS.
ABBIE: (TO THEMSELVES) It’s fine. We’re fine. I just need to
breathe.
THEY TAKE DEEP BREATHS.
LILY: How about I breathe with you?
LILY TAKES DEEP BREATHES TOO.
ABBIE: (TO THEMSELVES) I’m afraid but that’s okay. I’m afraid but I
can still face this. I am NOT broken; there is no broken.
You’re prepared for this. You know what to do. Just do it...
ABBIE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.
Hello?
VIOLENT POUNDING AND SCRATCHING AT THE
DOOR.
ABBIE: (VOICE CRACKING) I would like to file a complaint with the
Proprietor.
PAUSE. FOLLOWED BY A SICKENING,
UNNATURAL SOUND OF FLESH AND BONE
HALF-SHIFTING.
PROPRIETOR: (D) You have a complaint?
ABBIE: I do. I feel this establishment creates a hostile dining
environment.
DOG-LIKE WHINE FROM OTHER SIDE OF DOOR.
PROPRIETOR: (D) Why would you feel this way?
ABBIE: People are harried and harassed through the halls. They are
bullied. Barked at. Snapped at.
LILY: I was cut.
ABBIE: My friend was cut. There is no consideration for the needs of
the patrons or staff. There is no respect for boundaries. It
makes this place unsafe. You need to set boundaries. That is
your responsibility. You are the Proprietor.
MORE SHIFTING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
DOOR. A SOUND LIKE A WHIRLWIND OR MAYBE
A LOON CALL RUSHES THROUGH AS IF PULLED
OUT INTO A VACUUM. THEN...SILENCE.
LILY: Did it work?
PAUSE.
LIGHT TAPPING AT THE DOOR. LILY AND ABBIE
BOTH YELP IN SURPRISE.
ABBOT: So sorry to disturb you, I just wanted to check and make
sure you’re both all right?
ABBIE: We’ll...we’ll be out in a minute.
ABBOT: Of course. Terribly sorry. I do apologize.
LILY: You did it!
ABBIE: I think...I did. And...my adrenaline’s crashing. Oh God.
LILY: Deep breaths. What now?
ABBIE: We open the door?
THE DOOR SLOWLY OPENS ON A
TRANSFORMED EXTERIOR. IT IS QUIET EXCEPT
FOR THE TICKING OF A CUCKOO CLOCK, THE
WHIRRING OF A COFFEE MACHINE, AND THE
FLIPPING OF PAGES. THEY WALK FORWARD.
ABBIE: Fancy café...still not a library.
TIM: This place sure looks different.
ABBIE: Tim?
LILY: Uncle Tim?!
TIM: Lily? Lil’ Lilybelle? Is that you?
LILY: Yeah.
TIM: The last time I saw you, you were puntable. Now look at
you...all grown up. I wish I could have seen it.
ABBIE: Tim, what happened here?
TIM: You tell me. I haven’t been able to get my table for ages.
Then suddenly, I’m here in this fancy shmancy coffee shop
and it’s just you, me, and that wolf in the corner reading
White Fang.
THE WOLF SHUSHES HIM.
TIM: (CALLING OUT) Sorry. Didn’t mean to disturb you.
WOLF GROWLS AND TURNS A PAGE.
(LOW) Whatever you did really changed things around here.
FOOTSTEPS.
ABBOT: Abbie! Wonderful. You’re back. I hope your little sojourn
wasn’t too trying.
ABBIE: It was...just trying enough.
ABBOT: Well, we DO try. LILY! Your arm! (WHINES) I am so SO
sorry. So sorry.
LILY: I take it you’re the Proprietor of this place?
ABBOT: (FINISHING)...so sorry. Yes, please, we’re all friends here.
Call me Abbot. Oh, by the way, look.
HE LEADS THEM A LITTLE WAYS INTO THE
SPACE.
ABBOT: Huh? Eh? Health inspection certification. Cleanliness in an
establishment is so important to maintaining trust with the
community, wouldn’t you say?
LILY: I would.
ABBOT : I knew you would.
LILY: Still not sure about the taxidermy though.
ABBOT: Exceptions must be made for artistic expression.
FOOTSTEPS OF LARK.
LARK: Here.
ABBOT: We made you a few snacks for the road.
LARK: (CONCERNED) Abbie?
ABBOT: Are you sure you’re both all right?
ABBIE: We are...we will be.
LILY: It’s been...a night.
ABBOT: Well...just so you know, you’re welcome here any time.
LARK: Any time Abbie.
ABBOT: When you want to be...of course.
LARK: Boundaries.
ABBOT: Yes, we must have boundaries. That way everyone stays
safe and comfortable.
LARK: Including Abbie.
ABBOT: And Lily.
LARK: (RELUCTANT) Fine.
LILY: Well, we should go.
LARK: Goodbye hug?
ABBOT: I don’t think so. Remember: boundaries.
ABBIE: It’s...fine.
LARK GENTLE HUGS ABBIE.
LARK: Abbiiiieeeeeeeee! Miss you.
LILY: Uncle Tim.
TIM: Oh Lil Lilybelle. Come here.
THEY HUG.
I so wish I could be there for you. Gotta put all my love into
one big hug.
THE HUG BREAKS.
TIM: You take care of yourself kiddo.
LILY: You too.
LILY AND ABBIE OPEN THE DOOR. THE BELL
DINGS. THE DOOR SHUTS. THEY’RE IN THE
LOBBY OF THE FENWOOD HOUSE.
MARISOL: Hey! You’re back. How’d it go at the diner?
LILY: Home? How did we...?
LILY OPENS THE DOOR TO THE HOUSE INTO
THE POURING RAIN OF THE OUTSIDE.
I...We...
MARISOL: Alcohol?
LILY: Please.
MARISOL HEADS TOWARD THE KITCHEN.
LILY: Abbie?
ABBIE: Hmm?
LILY: That’s your “figuring things out” face. What are you thinking?
ABBIE: Boundaries keep us safe.
LILY: You did seem to teach them that.
ABBIE: And they moved us from the diner directly to Fenwood.
Places where we’re safe.
LILY: Meaning...we aren’t safe other places. (PAUSE) You do
remember we drove your car out there, right?
ABBIE: Yeah.
LILY: Which means we’re going to have to go back there to get it.
ABBIE: That sounds like tomorrow Abbie’s problem.
MARISOL REENTERS FROM THE KITCHEN.
MARISOL: So, all your mother has is five bottles of Kahlua.
ABBIE: Kahlua it is!
THEY EXIT. THE POURING RAIN CONTINUES
OUTSIDE. THERE IS A HAPPY BARK THROUGH
THE DOOR AND THE SOUND OF TWO DOGS
PADDING OFF INTO THE RAIN.
END.